Fast And Furious Presents: Hobbs And Shaw

2019 Universal Pictures

Rated: PG-13

Length: 2 hr 17min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Thriller

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Eiza González, Cliff Curtis, and Helen Mirren.

Nothing is stronger than family.

Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw centers on two reluctant allies, Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), who are forced to team up amidst a high-stakes pursuit of a powerful super virus that could potentially wipe out the entire human race. The story begins in London, where MI6 agent Hattie Shaw ( Vanessa Kirby), Deckard’s younger sister, acquires a programmable super virus called “Snowflake” from a cyberterrorist group named Eteon. After a violent attack by Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), an enhanced ex-MI6 agent with cybernetic abilities who kills her team, Hattie injects herself with the virus to keep it from falling into enemy hands and is then framed as a criminal on the run.

Hobbs, an ex-DSS agent estranged from his Samoan family, and Shaw, an ex-MI6 agent with a complicated past, are independently tasked to track down the missing virus by CIA Agent Victor Locke (Played by Ryan Reynolds in an uncredited Cameo Role). They initially clash due to their rivalry but eventually must collaborate to find and rescue Hattie. Their mission leads them through intense action sequences, including a daring car chase and battles against Eteon’s forces, as the trio uncovers the deadly potential of the virus and the high stakes of Brixton’s plan for global dominance.

They try to trick their way into the Eteon Lab where there is a virus extraction machine that can recover the virus capsules from inside Hattie. But the machine is damaged as they escape the lab with it. With everyone looking for them after Eteon plastered their pictures all over every news media in the world, Hobbs decides there is only one place they can go. The one place he never wanted to go back to, home to Samoa. Knowing that they would be safe on the remote island with his estranged family long enough to fix the machine and extract the virus, they head to Samoa.

Hobbs has a complicated but deep relationship with his brother Jonah, who initially feels hurt and neglected because Hobbs had been absent from his family’s life for a long time. When Hobbs returns to Samoa, there’s tension between them, but they eventually begin to reconnect and rebuild their bond. This reconciliation is important because it not only strengthens their family ties but also becomes vital in the fight ahead, and Hobbs knows that Jonah has the expertise and the technology to fix the Virus Capsule extraction machine.

The Samoan community, led by Hobbs and supported by his brother and other family members, comes together to prepare for an epic battle against Brixton, who threatens global destruction with a deadly virus. The brothers draw on their Samoan heritage and warrior spirit, merging traditional strength and modern tactics to stand against the coming enemy. This powerful alliance of family and community showcases themes of unity, loyalty, and courage as they put everything on the line to protect humanity from a catastrophic threat. Their fight is not just personal—it is a struggle for the survival of innocent lives everywhere.

I have seen this movie a few times and I was anxious to watch it again after I found out it was going to be on Netflix with most of The Fast And The Furious Franchise. It does not disappoint, with such Star Power, how could it? I am a huge Jason Statham fan and a big fan of Dwayne Johnson, and the two together are perfect in my opinion. More, please! I had forgotten how much of a Bad-Ass Vanessa Kirby is in this movie, from the very beginning she holds her own with Statham and Johnson, giving The Rock a run for his money in one scene. Awesome job by Vanessa! I just watched her in Night Always Comes and really enjoyed her in that one as well. I thought she was really good as Josephine De Beauharnais in Napoleon, which is a really good movie also.

I feel like I could go on for days about this movie I like it so much….Idris Alba is excellent as the evil cyborg trying to rid the planet of the weak side of humanity. That motorcycle of his is something else! Wicked special effects on that one! And the last part of the movie where Hobbs goes home to Samoa is great. Watching his Mom break bad with a flip-flop that EVERYONE on the island respects was hilarious and heart-warming. You see the love and sense of family they all have for each other. Getting a glimpse of the Samoan culture and their fierce Warrior Spirit was awe-Inspiring. Kevin Hart also has an uncredited Cameo as a US Air Marshall. And on and on and on….. Seriously….do yourself a favor..

Grab A Beverage,

Make Some Popcorn

And Stream This Movie!

And when the credits start to roll don’t look away,

there are two more small scenes in the midst of the credits,

Don’t Miss Them!

Napoleon

Night Always Comes

Red Notice

2021 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 58min

Action ~ Comedy ~ Thriller

Directed by: Rawson Marshall Thurber

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot and Ritu Arya.

RED NOTICE: The highest level of arrest warrant issued by The International Police Organization (INTERPOL). Reserved for the world’s most wanted criminals.

Though many know the tragic love story of Antony and Cleopatra, the wayward Roman general who fell madly in love with the enchanting Egyptian queen, both of them taking their lives rather than face a world without each other, few know the secret story of the most sought-after prize and unsolved puzzle of their time. The mystery of Cleopatra’s third egg. On their wedding day, as a symbol of his undying devotion, Mark Antony presented Cleopatra with three bejeweled eggs, each one more exquisite than the last. For centuries, these eggs were thought to be nothing more than myth, a rumor. But then, in 1907, just outside of Cairo, a local farmer unearthed two of them.

Cleopatra’s first egg is on display for all to see at the world-famous Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome. The second egg has been sold at auction numerous times and currently is held in a private collection. Some say the third egg was never found. Others claim it was discovered, but just as quickly lost, never to be seen again. Join us as we explore that very question. What happened to Cleopatra’s lost egg? Who may hold it in their possession? And most importantly, will we ever see the day in which all three eggs are reunited for the first time in over 2,000 years?

Ryan Reynolds stars as Nathan Booth, the world’s second most wanted art thief. As the movie starts he is making a copy of Cleopatra’s first egg which is on display at the National Art Museum in Rome. Thanks to an anonymous tip Interpol Agent Urvashi Das (Ritu Arya), accompanied by FBI Profiler John Hartley (Dwayne Johnson), swarms the museum with an entourage of Police and agents, convinced that Cleopatra’s egg is to be stolen today. John Hartley doubts the authenticity of the egg on display and pours coke over it and it promptly melts.

They immediately rush to seal the room but Nathan Booth, who has stolen the egg, escapes and is chased by John. Eventually, after a high action chase through the museum and construction scaffolding, Nathan loses John and escapes to his house in Bali. As he opens up the suitcase to reveal his newest prize possession, The stolen Cleopatra egg, he is surprised by John Hartley and Interpol Agent Das who promptly arrest him and take possession of the egg. As John Hartley is putting the egg in it’s protective case in the back of the armored police vehicle and walks to the front to get in, it is stolen and replaced with a fake by……..

The Bishop (Gal Gadot), the world’s most wanted art thief, and Nathan Booth’s Arch Nemesis. What follows is a globe trotting adventure full of action and comedic one liners as Nathan Booth, The Bishop, Agent Das and John Hartley all pursue Cleopatra’s infamous three eggs and each other. Ryan Reynold’s is in top form with his wise cracks and comedic one-liners. Dwayne Johnson is The Rock we all know from his other movies, able to fight and throw out one-liners to equal Ryan’s at the same time. Gal Gadot is a beautiful, sexy, smart and talented art thief who holds her own against any man physically as she outwits Nathan and John.

It is a familiar story with a twist. Think The DaVinci Code, The Indiana Jones movies, Mission Impossible, The Man from Uncle….I swear some of the soundtrack sounded like Mission Impossible with a couple of different notes just to avoid copyright, or maybe to pay homage. I think a scene at the end mimics and pays homage to one of The Indiana Jones movies. There are ALOT of twists and turns you don’t see coming. It really keeps you guessing and it is very entertaining. Lots of thrilling chase scenes and fights along the way. I have seen this movie at least three times now and I still enjoyed every minute of it.

There are rumor’s of a Red Notice 2 & 3 to fill out a trilogy but no official word. Red Notice 2 is unofficially supposed to have started production right about now but that’s all I the info I can find on that. The ending lends itself to a sequel, I would love to see it.

Highly Recommended!

Two Thumbs Up!

The Adam Project

2022 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 46min

Action ~ Adventure ~ Comedy ~ Sci-Fi

Directed by: Shawn Levy

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Catherine Keener, Zoe Saldaña.

“Time travel exists, you just don’t know it yet.”

Ryan Reynolds stars as Adam Reed, a fighter pilot in the year 2050. He has commandeered a fighter jet equipped to time travel and is attempting to travel back in time to the year 2018. Narrowly escaping and taking a bullet in the side, he puts in the wrong info and crash lands in 2022. He lands just outside the house he grew up in with his mother and father. He makes it out of the jet and makes his way to the shed in the back of the house. Knowing how to get in because he grew up there as a child, he rests for a minute as he assesses his situation and is discovered by…….

12 year old Adam Reed (Walker Scobell)who immediately threatens his older self with a baseball bat. The ensuing conversation as Younger Adam Reed puts two and two together and discovers that this strange man pilot is actually the future him is absolutely hilarious. The witty banter between Ryan Reynolds and Walker Scobell is really well done. Walker holds his own against the veteran actor as they trade barbs toe to toe.

The older Adam explains to the younger Adam that their deceased father, unbeknownst to him, invented time travel. But his partner at the time, Maya Sorian (Catherine Keener), has taken control of it in the future for pure greed and now controls every aspect of it. Old Adam was attempting to go back to 2018 and warn their Dad about his current partner and her future plans. But somehow he ended up here confronting “You, my younger self. The one thing in time travel you’re not supposed to do.”

Before they can go any further, the evil Maya Sorian (Catherine Keener) shows up after having tracked him and unleashes a small army of men to take him back to the future. While attempting to fight off the small army of men and losing ground, he is suddenly assisted by his wife Laura (Zoe Saldaña), who Old Adam thought had been killed by Maya. After defeating Maya and her henchmen Laura takes the two Adams to her hideout where she has been for the past four years.

What follows is a a hilarious action filled adventure as they attempt to go back to 2018 and convince their Dad (Mark Ruffalo) that his current partner Maya is really evil as her future self and must be stopped. Jennifer Garner plays the Adams’ mother and does a good job of portraying the widow dealing with raising her precocious, rebelling son. Again the relationship between the two Adams is well done, and keeps you laughing as they trade witty barbs. This is Walker Scobell’s Movie debut and I think it was an absolutely perfect debut. Well done, Lad!

It is more of a family feel-good movie that does touch on the relationships between a father and his younger and older versions of his son.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.

Two Thumbs Up!